Combined mirror and instrument



Oct. 25, 1932.

w. LA HODNY ET AL ,8 4,7 8

COMBINED MIRROR AND INSTRUMENT Filed April 28. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l a? a 1 2/ a; 7

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' gwuento'ps 0M6 M0 Oct. 25, 1932. w. LA HODNY ET AL 1,884,758

COMBINED MIRROR AND INSTRUMENT Filed April 28. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 I llnh as 24 J20 6 1 Patented Oct 25 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILIIIAM LA HOIDNY AND PAUL BERTELL, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO STANDARD MIRROR COMPANY, INC., BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK COMBINED MIRROR AND INSTRUMENT Application filed April 28, 1930. Serial No. 448,120.

particularly directed to the form of a rear vision mirror and clock combination shown and described in the application of Wllham La Hodny, Serial Number 408,095, filed November 18, 1929, in which form the face of I plate.

the watch or clock is directly visible through a transparency or transparent opening ro vided in the mirror by removing or by 6111111: nating the reflective coating on a portion of the mirror so that the mirror plate itself forms a crystal for the watch or clock. By this means the combined mirror and watch or clock are in their most compact form, the assembly is attractive in appearance, the face F of the watch or clock is clearly visible, and the rear vision mirror possesses its complete strength so that it is not likely to break or crack as would be the case if an opening of the size required were provided in the mirror By forming the mirror so as also to form the crystal for a watch or clock, the danger of dust filtering through to the movement is reduced.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a single mirror having a watch, clock or other instrument associated therewith in which the clock or watch case is supported by the bracket which also supports the rear vision mirror and by suitable fastenings is held against the rear face of the bracket and is supported against undue vibration.

Another object is to provide such a rear vision mirror and watch or clock in which the watch or clock is mounted in the upper center of the mirror and directly above the universalmounting for the assembly. This mounting for the watch or clock, contrasted with mounting it, for example at the unsupported end of the mirror, permits of using a heavier and more durable watch or clock movement, reduces the vibration transmitted to the watch or clock movement, avoids the direct view of the watch case by people entering the car, such as is the case when the watch is mounted in rear of the outwardly tilted right hand end of the mirror, avoids the protrusion of the stem and crown of the watch from the end of the mirror, positions the dial of the watch or clock where it is most easily read by all of the occupants of the automobile, especially those in the right rear seat, permits the rear vision mirror to be used its full length Withoutinterruption and does not provide a distracting aperture when the watch 'or clock is removed for repairs, does not tend to rotate the rear vision mirror when supported by a universal joint or tend to cause a whipping or vibrating movement of the mirror. The mounting of the watch or clock at the upper center of the rear vision mirror further provides a design which is balanced and symmetrical, has pleasing curves and graceful lines, and hides the objectionable installation parts of the bracket arm.

Another purpose is to provide fastening means which support the watch or clock from the bracket and against the rear side of the mirror which fastening means permit the ready removal of the watch or clock case without in any way interfering with the bracket or the mirror mounting. By this means if the watch or clock should require repairs it is only necessary to remove the watch or clock case and the rear vision mirror is left intact and unimpaired in the car.

A further object is to provide such attaching means for holding the watch or clock case against the rear side of a rear vision mirror from the bracket thereof which means are adjustable and permit of tightening the watch case against the mirror with uniform pres sure in all installations regardless of variations in the thicknesses of the glass mirror plates or other variable conditions encountered.

A further purpose is to so mount the rear vision mirror and clock by means of a universal connection that the rear vision mirror can be swung downwardly to a horizontal ustmg the watch or clock.

position. By so mounting the mirror and watch or clock the mirror can be swung into a horizontal position for convenience in winding, adjusting or removing the watch or clock.

Other aims are to provide such a combined rear vision mirror and watch or clock which is simple and inexpensive in construction and adapted to production methods and which is attractive in appearanceboth from the front, sides and rear of the assembly, the rear being visible through the windshield of the automobile. I

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a combined rear vision mirror and watch or clock made in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33, Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 55, Fig. 3, and showing the rear vision mirror unswung to a horizontal position for. convenience in removing, repairing or ad Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of a combined watch or clock showing a modified form of the means for securing and supporting the watch case in position.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing another modified form of the invention.

Figure 9 is a View similar to Fig. 7 showing the form of the invention shown in Fig. 8.

Similar numerals refer to like parts in each of the several views.

In its general organization this invention comprises a rear vision mirror for use in automobiles or the like in which a portion of the mirror coating is removed or eliminated to provide a transparent crystal for a watch or clock, a mirror bracket adapted to be secured to the head bar of an automobile windshield or the like and carrying a ball, a pair of plates between which the mirror plate is held and which are also formed to provide jointly an adjustable socket for receiving the said ball so that said mirror can be swung to horizontal or vertical positions and also swung in a horizontal plane, and a watch case supported in rear of said transparency and against said mirror plate by means which engage opposite sides of the watch case and also engage adjacent parts of one of said mirror supporting plates. Each ofthese connecting means are so designed that the watch or clock case is held against a mirror plate with a uniform pressure regardless of variations in the thickness of the'mirror plates and in their preferred form these means are also so arranged that the watch or clock case can be removed without in any way disturbing the supporting plates for the mrror.

sorb apart of the light reflected into them so that the mirror reflects the image with reduced illumination but without distortion and a non-glare effect is thereby obtained without sacrificing the clearness of the vision. Both the mirror and the watch or clock, which can be either of the back wind or stem wind type, are carried by a bracket plate 17 having holes 18 by which the bracket plate is secured to the head bar (not shown) of the automobile windshield or to any other suitable part of the automobile or other vehicle in which the rear vision mirror is installed. At its lower end the bracket plate 17 carries a stem 19 which is formed to provide a ball 20. The mirror plate 14 is carried by a metal backing plate 21, the upper part of this backing plate 21 being bifurcated to provide two arms 22 which diverge upwardly and are formed at their outer ends to provide fingers 23. The arms 22 rest flat against the rear side of the mirror plate and the fingers 23 engage the beveled edge of the mirror on opposite sides of the rounded upward extension 15 thereof and serve in part to hold the mirror in position. The mirror backing plate 21 is formed to provide a rearwardly projecting central jaw 24:, this jaw being formed by bending back a part of this mirror backing plate 21 as best shown in Fig. 5. This jaw 24 is bifurcated to provide two rearward extensions 25 and the jaw 24- is formed to provide between these extensions 25 a downwardly facing rounded seat 26 which is adapted to engage and seat upon the upper side of the ball 20. The smallest space between the extensions 25' of the jaw 24, as indicated at 27, is of greater width than the stem 19 supporting the ball 20 so that if desired the mirror can be swung into a position in which the stem is arranged between the extensions 25.

To clamp the mirror in position a lower outer mirror backing plate 28 is provided, this lower backing plate being arranged flat against the rear side of the mirror backing plate 21, as best shown in Fig. 3, and being formed at its lower end to provide one or more fingers 29, which fingers extend around the lower margin of the mirror plate 14 and engage the lower beveled edge thereof. The lower or outer mirror backing plate is formed to provide a lower jaw 30 which lower jaw, in the same manner as the jaw 24 of the upper mirror plate, is formed by bending back the upper end of the lower mirror backing plate 28v and is also bifurcated to provide two rearward extensions 31 which extensions are formed to provide arounded seat 32 for engaging the under side of the ball 20. In the same manner as with the upper jaw 24 the smallest space, indicated at 33, between the extensions 31 of the j aw is larger than the pin 19 which supports the ball 20 so that the mirror can be swung downwardly into ahorizontal position as indicated in Fig. 5, the pin or stem 19 traveling between the extensions 31 of the lower jaw 30. In addition the lower jaw 30 is formed at its sides to provide upwardly extending flanges 34 which flanges engage the sides of the upper jaw 24 and prevent relative twisting movement of these jaws. The relative downward movement of the upper mirror backing plate 21 and upward movement of the lower backing plate 28 to eifect clamping of the mirror plate 14 between the fingers 23 and 29 of these plates, and the movement of the jaws 24 and 30 toward one another to effect a firm frictional engagement of the seats 26 and 32 thereof against the opposite sides of the ball 20 is effected by three screws 35 which extend through the clamping jaws 24 and 30 on opposite sides of the ball 20 and upon being tightened force these jaws toward each other and into firm engagement with the ball 20 an d at the same time draw the fingers 23 and 29 into firm clamping engagement with the corresponding edges of the mirror. Each of these screws preferably screws into a sleeve nut 36 which is provided with a slotted head ,37 so that either the nut or the screw can be tightened to secure the clamping of the jaws 2 1 and 30 to the ball 20. By reason of the ball and socket connection formed by the jaws 24 and 30 of the mirror plates and the ball 20 carried by the bracket plate 17 it is apparent that the mirror plate 1 can be grasped and can be moved to any des red position on the ball 20 and by reason of its frictional connection with this ball it is held in such adjusted position without being affected by the vibration of the automobile.

In the upwardly extended part 15 of the mirror plate 14 a transparency 38 is provided. This transparency or opening is provided either by scraping a portion of the metallic deposit or other coating from the rear side of the glass plate or by covering that part with some substance on which the silver or other reflective coating will not deposit. Around this transparency or transparent opening 38 a groove 39 is shown as ground into the rear side of the mirror plate and in this groove the rim of an instrument case 40 is set. This instrument case 40 houses the working parts of the switch, clock or other instrument, and the dial 41 and hands 12, or other indicating parts of the watch, clock or instrument are visible through the transparency or crystal 38 formed as previously described.

In order to hold the instrument case 40 firmly and reliably in proper position in the groove 39, each of the arms 22 of the upper mirror backing plate 21 is formed to provide arms, fingers or clips 43 which arms are formed integrally with the arms 22 and extend rearwardly therefrom along opposite sides of the watch case. Each of the fingers 43 carries a screw 45 which screws upon being tightened bear against the rim of the instrument case 10 and holds it firmly in position in the groove 39.

The watch or other instrument used within the instrument case e0 can be of the back wind type or it can be of the stem wind type having its winding crown 46 arranged at the upper edge of the mirror plate. The instrument case 1O can also be provided with a teat 17 having an opening e28 therein, this teat and opening being normally closed by a small outwardly dished closure 49 which is pivoted to tl e face of the instrument case 10 by a rivet 50. The provision of the opening 18 pernits access to the adjusting mechanism for the watch, clock or other instrument in the instrument case 10. It is ap parent that by providing a sufficient space between the extensions 31 of the lower clamping jaw 30 the entire assembly can be swung downwardly so that the mirror plate 1% is arranged horizontally as shown in Fig. 5. In this position the back of the instrument case a0 is readily accessible for winding or adjusting the watch or clock and it is also apparent that while in this horizontal position shown in Fig. 5 the screws 45 can be readily unscrewed and the entire instrument casing 40 slipped out of the groove 29 and removed from the mirror entirely. By this means should it become necessary to repair the watch or clock it can be quickly removed from the rear vision mirror and its mounting without in any way disturbing the mounting for the mirror itself, and hence the watch or clock can be taken out and left for repairs or adjustment without in any way interfering with the operation or mounting of the rear vision mirror.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is illustrated a modified form of the invention. In this form of the invention the arms 22 of the upper mirror backing plate 21 are each formed to provide an outwardly reversely formed lip 55, these lips being formed to curl away from one another. Adjacent each of these lips each side of the instrument case 40 is punched out toform an ear 56. Each of these ears 56 is provided with a rear edge 57 which is adapted to be engaged by the rear flange of a C-shaped clamping piece 58. The front edge of this C-shaped clamping piece 58 engages under the reversely formed edge of the adjacent lip 55. A screw 59 extends through each of the C-shaped clamping pieces 58 and engages a threaded opening provided in each of the ears 56. It is therefore apparent that upon placing the clamping pieces 58 in engagement with the hps 55 and with the corresponding ears 56 and upon tightening, the screws 59 the instrument case 40 is brought into firm engagement with its groove 89 and is securely held in position. At the same time the mirror plate can be moved to its horizontal position shown in Fig. 5 and the clamping pieces 58 10 easily loosened and the watch, clock or other instrumentreadily removed from the mirror without in any way interfering with the mounting of the rear vision mirror plate 14;.

In Figs. 8 and 9 another form of the invention is illustrated in which a lower stem wind watch or clock is provided. In this form the watch or clock is shown as held in place in the same manner as the form shown in Figs. 15, but the plate 21 is extended downwardly and is formed at its lower end to provide an ear 66 which projects rearwardly below the plate 28 and is provided with a hole 65. In this hole is anchored a sleeve 63 which extends upwardly through openings 64 provided in the upper and lower clamping jaws 24 and 30 and engages the rim of the watch case 40. This sleeve 63 houses the winding stem (not shown) which stem carries at its lower end a winding crown 67. This crown is therefore located in a more convenient position for winding than when arranged at the top of the mirror as shown in Figs. 1-5. In taking off the watch case for repairs to its movement, the watch case is loosened from the screws 45 and the clock case is then lifted free of the winding stem and the sleeve 63, thereby making it very convenient to remove. At the same time, the sleeve 63, its contained winding stem and the watch or clock case 40 are supported by the same plate, plate 21, so that there is no ditticulty in alining the watch, stem and sleeve in assembling the structure.

All of the forms of the present invention provide a simple and secure means for supporting an instrument case, such as for a watch or clock, against the rear or coated side of a rear vision mirror and in each of the forms the instrument case is securely held at opposite sides and in a position directly over the ball and socket connection between the mirror plate and its supporting bracket in which position the watch or clock is subject to the least vibration. The mounting of the mirror plate further permits the rear vision mirror to be swung to a horizontal position in which the rear of the instrument case is readily accessible for repairs or adjustment and in the forms shown in Figs. 17 the instrument case can be readily removed from the rear vision mirror in its entirety without in any way altering or interfering with the mounting for the rear vision mirror, thereby greatly expediting repairs upon the same.

We claim as our invention:

1. Means for supporting an instrument case behind a transparent panel, comprislng a metal backing plate supporting said panel and having a cut away portion, an instrument case having an open side arranged in said cut away portion, a pair of metal mem bers connected to said plate and projecting rearwardly alongside of said instrument case, and each of said connecting members including a part extending over the rear of said instrument case and means operatively connecting said members and said case for exerting a forward pressure against said instrument case thereby to hold said instrument case against said panel, and to' permit an instrument arranged in said instrument case to be visible through said panel.

2. Means for supporting an instrument case behind a transparent panel, comprising a metal backing plate supporting said panel and having a cut away portion, an instrument case having an open side arranged in said cut away portion, a pair of metal members connected to said plate and projecting rearwardly alongside of said instrument case, means connecting each of said metal members with a rear part of said instrument case and including a screw extending through each of said connecting members, said screw being arranged to exert a forward pressure on said instrument case thereby to hold said instrument case against said panel and to permit an instrument arranged in said instrument case to be visible through said transparent opening.

8. Means for supporting an instrument case behind a transparent panel, comprising a metal backing plate supporting said panel and having a cut away portion, an instrument case having an open side arranged in said cut away portion, a pair of clips each having one end secured to said instrument case at opposite sides thereof and having its other end connected to said backing plate to exert a forward pressure on said instrument case thereby to hold said instrument case against said panel and to permit an instrument arranged in said instrument case to be visible through said panel.

4. Means for supporting an instrument case behind a transparent panel, comprising a metal backing plate supporting said panel and having a cut away portion, an instrument case having an open side arranged in said cut away portion, a pair of shoulders provided at opposite sides of said instrument case, a clip connecting each of said shoulders with said backing plate and yieldingly holding said instrument case against said panel, screw means interposed between each corresponding clip and shoulder and adjusting the tension of each clip whereby an instrument arranged in said instrument case is visible through said panel.

5. Means for supporting an instrument case behind a transparent panel, comprising a metal backing plate supporting said panel and having a cut away portion, an instrument case having an open side arranged in said cut away portion, a pair of shoulders projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said instrument case, a pair of projections formed on said backing plate adjacent said shoulders, a pair of clips each having one end form-ed to hook over one of said projections and its other end formed to hook over the corresponding shoulder, screw means interposed between each corresponding clip and shoulder and adapted to flex each clip to shorten said clip and draw said instrument case into firm engagement with the rear of said panel, whereby an instrument arranged in said instrument case is visible through said panel.

6. Means for supporting an instrument case behind a. transparent panel, comprising a metal backing plate supporting said panel and having a cut away port on, an instrument case having an open side arranged in said cut away portion, a pair of ears projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said instrument case, a pair of projections formed on said backing plate adjacent said ears, a pair of clips each having one end formed to hook over one of said projections and its other end formed to hook around the rear side of the corresponding ear, a screw arranged in a threaded hole provided in each of said. ears and arranged to bear against the corresponding clip thereby to flex the body of said clip and shorten the same to draw said instrument case into firm engagement with the rear side of said panel whereby an instrument arranged in said instrument case is visible through said panel.

7. Means for supporting an instrument case behind a transparent panel, comprising ametal backing plate supporting said panel and having a cut away portion, an instrument case having an open side arranged in said cut away portion, a pair of ears punched outwardly from opposite sides of the rim of said instrument case, the end of each of said ears being connected to said rim at its ends at different places along thev periphery of said rim, a pair of projections formed on said backing plate adjacent said ears, a pair of clips each having one end formed to hook over one of said projections and its other end formed to hook around the rear side of the corresponding ear, screw means interposed between each clip and the corresponding ear and arranged to flex the body of said clip and shorten the same to draw the instrument ease into firm engagement with the rear side of said panel whereby an instrument arranged in said instrument case is visible through said panel.

8. Means for supporting an instrument case behind a transparent panel, comprising a metal backing plate supporting said panel and having a cut away portion, an instrument case having an open side arranged in said cut away portion, a pair of cars punched outwardly from opposite sides of the rim of said instrument case, the ends of each of said ears being connected to said rim at different places along the periphery of said rim, a pair of lips formed on said backing plate adjacent said ears, a pair of C-shaped clips each having one end formed to hook over one of said clips and its other end formed to hook around the rear side of the corre sponding ear, a screw passing through an opening in each clip and engaging a threaded hole in the corresponding ear, the head of said screw being adapt-ed to bear against and flex each clip inwardly to shorten the same and draw said instrument case into firm en: gagementwith the rear side of said panel, whereby an instrument arranged in said instrument case is visible through said panel.

9. Means for mounting an instrument case behind a transparent panel having a groove in its rear side, comprising an instrument case arranged in rear of said panel and having its rim arranged in said groove, an ear formed in opposite sidesof said instrument case, a metal backing plate supporting said panel and cut away around said groove to receive said instrument case, a pair of spring clips each having one end secured to said instrument case at opposite sides thereof and having its other end secured to said backing plate to exert a forward pressure on said instrument case thereby to hold said instrument case in said groove and to permit an instrument arranged in said instrument case to be vis ble through said panel.

10. Means for supporting an instrument case behind a transparent panel, comprising a metal backing plate arranged against the rear side of said panel, said backing plate being bifurcated to form two arms, means connecting each arm with one edge of the panel. means connecting said plate with the opposite edge of said panel thereby to support said panel. an instrument case arranged between said arms and. having its rim arranged against said panel, fastening members each connected at one end to the corresponding arm and said members extending rearwardly on opposite sides of said instrument case, screw means interposed between said instrument case and said fastening members and yieldingly holding said instrument case against the rear face of said panel whereby an instrument arranged in said instrument case is visible through said panel.

11. Means for supporting an instrument case behind a transparent panel, comprising a support for said panel. a time piece case carried by said support, whereby a time piece movement arranged in said case is visible through said panel, and a sleeve carried by said support whereby awindingstem ar-'- to said-time ranged in said sleeve is connected piece movement.

12. Means for supporting an instrument case behind a transparent panel, comprisingasupporting plate for said panel, a time piece case jointly supported by saidpanel and said supporting plate, whereby a time piece movement arranged in said case is visible through said panel anda sleeve carried exclusively by said supporting plate, whereby a, Winding stem arranged in said sleeve is connected to said time piece movement.

13. Means for supporting an instrument case behind" a transparent panel, comprising a pair of plates overlappingone another; means associated With said plates for grasp- 'ing'the opposite edges ofthepanel therebe tween, means for drawing said plates parallel Withone another, a time piece case carried by one of said plates, whereby a time piece'movement arranged in said case is visible through said panel, an ear formed to project rearwardly from the plate which carries said time piece case and on the opposite side of the other plate from. said time piece casey'anda'sleeve anchored in said ear; Whereby a Winding stem in said 'sleeve'is connected with said time piece movement.

In testimony whereof they aflix their' sig natures;

WILLIAM LA HODNY. RAUL BERTELL. 

